David Grayson’s philosophy was really pretty simple.
As a defensive back who set numerous records during his 10 years with the Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, he knew he wasn’t going to win every battle, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
“I was very, very competitive,” said Grayson who looks at least 10 years younger than his 70 years. “I’d think, ‘you might get me now, but I’ll get you later.’ As a defensive back, you were out on an island all alone but the longer I played; the percentages were in my favor.”
That’s because Grayson was constantly learning, discovering trends and patterns and improving his own game. It started well before he signed with the Texans in 1961 after playing four years at the University of Oregon and at both San Diego and Lincoln High School before that.
“I ran track at Oregon and (coach) Bill Bowerman called me aside one day and said we were going to work on my start,” said Grayson, a sprinter. “He said I took too long a stride at the start, so he had me take three or four steps to the one or two I was taking before. And he told me to stay low.”
“I could always finish the race strong but that allowed me to get out of the starting blocks quicker.”
Grayson, who played professionally at 5-foot-10, 185 to 195-pounds, was known in professional football for his closing ability, for zeroing in on an interception, to bat the ball away or, as a last resort, to stop the receiver in his tracks.
“Those first four steps when the ball was in the air allowed me to close fast,” said Grayson, recalling the advice from the famous Ducks track coach.
It wasn’t the only trick he picked up while playing for coaches like Hank Stramm, Al Davis, John Madden, Len Casanova and the legendary Duane Maley at San Diego High and Walt Harvey at Lincoln.
Despite having a stellar career at the University of Oregon, where he was also part of the Ducks’ powerful track team, Grayson was disappointed when he wasn’t drafted.
He was invited to attend the Dallas Cowboys training camp and was one of the last cuts.
“One of their players told me they cut me instead of someone else hoping to bring me back later,” said Grayson, who instead went to camp with the Dallas Texans of the AFL. It was very different, but he also knew there was no doubt he’d make that team.
“The structure was completely different,” said Grayson, who was with the team four years—two in Dallas and two after they moved to Kansas City. “The Cowboys had everything in place and they had veterans who had played a long time. It was all new in the AFL.”
Signing for less than $25,000, he started all but one game before being traded to the Raiders, where he played the next six years.
During his AFL career, he became the all-time interception leader with 47 and number one in interception return yardage with 908, boosted by another AFL, a record 99-yard touchdown return against the New York Titans in 1961.
Asked about that pick, he just grinned.
“There wasn’t any thought about doing anything but returning it as far as you could,” he said. “I really don’t remember much about it except just like all the others, you ran as far and as fast as you could.”
His interception of George Blanda in the 1962 double overtime championship win over the Houston Oilers clinched the AFL title.
He also picked up an AFL championship ring, which he proudly wears on his right hand, playing for the 1967 Raiders. That team went on to Super Bowl II in Miami where they lost to the Green Bay Packers, 33-14.
When Grayson decided to retire, he bought a nightclub just a few blocks from his house before selling it six years later after getting tired of staying up late every night. His only regret is never getting into coaching as family responsibilities and work made it impossible.
“My only goal when I played was to win,” said Grayson. “Back then, we used to call a lot of our own plays, offensively and defensively. The theory was you were the player and you could see best at field level; what was working and what wasn’t.
“If a certain play was working, we’d run it until the other team adjusted. When they did, then we’d adjust. It was the same thing on defense. I’d look to see what would work and we’d run that defense until they changed. It was pretty simple.”
Grayson said when he was a youngster, he toughened himself up by always playing against boys who were six to seven years older than he was. Since they were bigger and often faster, he had to make sure when he made a tackle or ran the ball, he did it right.
He also wrestled and boxed at the William Oakes Boys Club, which he said taught him how to use leverage against players like the San Diego Chargers’ Lance Alworth, whom he called one of the best he ever played against.
“He was a super, super, super, super star,” said Grayson, who recalls having three interceptions against Alworth, a 1972 inductee into the Breitbard Hall of Fame. “There are different kinds of receivers and he was one of those athletic, fast ones. Guys like Fred Biletnikoff were great possession receivers.”
He joined Alworth on the All-Time AFL team when it was announced in 1970.
“I think that was one of the best honors I’ve ever had,” he said. “When I look at some of the individuals I played with and against, how I was able to defend them, leading the team in interceptions and tackles, it’s very special.”
Posted on February 18, 2010 by Steve Brand
